Germany is expected to abstain
Heaven knows why Germany is behaving like this, but an abstention is a hell of a lot better than a No vote. India and Brazil are expected to abstain too. And the word is that China and Russia will not be vetoing action against Libya after all, but will abstain.
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Mark Mardell/BBC News – two hours ago:
The United Nations seems on the brink of taking a momentous decision. After hanging back for days the Americans have now not only backed the British and French resolution on Libya but beefed it up. The fact that the French foreign minister, Alain Juppe, will be here in person is a sign of French confidence that the Russians and Chinese won’t block the resolution.
The latest draft I have seen goes well beyond calling for a no-fly zone. It says that the Arab League, individual nations and organizations like Nato are authorized to “take all necessary measures…to protect civilians and civilian populated areas under threat…including Benghazi, while excluding an occupation force.”
I am told the first strikes will be unilateral ones by British and French aircraft. They could be in the air within hours. It is likely five Arab air forces will take part. Hillary Clinton has said it will mean bombing Libyan air defences. Nato will step up if asked but could take a while.
Although there have been other recent UN operations this would be the most serious intervention in a crisis for a long time, a marked contrast to the division over Iraq. That does not ease the worries of some in the administration that this will still be labeled an American war and they will be dragged deeper and deeper into the affairs of another Arab nation.
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“Diplomatic sources… suggest that if the resolution is passed, air attacks on Col Gaddafi’s forces by the British and French air forces could begin within hours. It is not thought that the US would be involved in the first strikes, but the British and French are likely to get logistical backup from Arab allies.”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12779628
The UN Security council meeting is being broadcast live on http://www.unmultimedia.org/tv/webcast/
Now is the moment of truth of our country. Gaddafi is threatening to attack civilian targets at random, including those countries that support the UN resolution, possibly Malta.
This is another proof that this man is very dangerous and is a threat to the world.
I also understand that if Malta contributes to the no-fly zone enforcement it would technically be respecting its neutrality as the action taken would be under the UN. Nevertheless we cannot ignore the cry of thousands of human beings that will be brutally executed for daring to ask to be respected as free persons.
There is absolutely no excuse to stay out of it now. Besides with such a dictator we really have to consider how to enforce our national security possibly by requesting military assistance from abroad.
I hope the Maltese government will not budge under the latest Gaddafi threats and be on the right side of history once again.
The link to Mark Mardell is here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markmardell/2011/03/airstrikes_on_libya_could_comm.html
No-fly zone vote being shown live on Sky News now.
10 votes in favour
0 votes against
5 abstentions
All this going on so close to home, and Tonio Fenech is busy … on Facebook!
Tonio Fenech
L-istorja ta’ suċċess tat-Twistees tkompli tikber b’investiment ġdid u esportazzjoni tal-prodott fl-Ewropa u l-Lvant Nofsani.
L-ekonomija Maltija fl-2010 tikber b’3.7%, ix-xogħol fl-aħħar kwart tal-2010 jiżdied b’3.4%
.L-istorja ta’ suċċess tat-Twistees tkompli tikber
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4 hours ago
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/profile.php?id=1073243836
[Daphne – And on Super One TV, Labour’s Business Forum chief is out to catch Spiderman with some really interesting tights, while talking about – yawn – divorce.]
Do explain. For those of us in distant climes.
Sad, sad, sad.
Resolution has just passed. You may watch the follow-up of the vote with the permanent and non-permanent members of the security council passing their comments after the vote.
http://www.unmultimedia.org/tv/webcast/
You forgot to mention pin-up boy Musumeci and that leftie anarchist on Smash TV.
Happy I was wrong.